Dance fans from across the globe congregated at TomorrowWorld which kicked off its second edition Friday (Sept. 26) with a stacked artist lineup on seven compelling stages. Billboard takes you down to Georgia to recap all the action and best behind the scenes moments from Day 1 in the Chattahoochee Hills.
TomorrowWorld 2014 Preview 9 Sets Not to Miss
10 48 a.m. My plane lands in Atlanta to the shrill welcome of Armin van Buuren s This is What it Feels Like blaring from my Brazilian seatmate s iPhone. Wearing wrap around sunglasses and leading a series of Portuguese cheers his mind is already at the main stage.
5 20 p.m. Mat Zo drops Darude s Sandstorm on the Main Stage. He did not just do that squeals a girl in a questionable feathered headdress. He sure did. The upbeat trance classic precedes a stomping festival drop punctuated by screeching electro synths and brief but booming dubstep interludes.
5 36 p.m. Strangers heading in opposite directions exchange high fives on the long bridges connecting stages over water. While the overall warm spirit of camaraderie is similar TomorrowWorld s crowd differs from its European counterpart in a number of ways. Far more fraternity flags and creative costumes.
5 42 p.m. France s Tchami skillfully cuts between funky house fare and resounding trap beats on the Mythical Frames Stage. As he delves into a rework of Chamillionare s I Got Hoes a sea of flags and inflatable objects bounce along with the bass.
6 57 p.m. How are you guys doing tonight a beaming Kygo queries his swelling Main Stage crowd. It feels so good to be here today He drops his popular Sexual Healing remix while a girl hoists a sign with its lyrics in time with the tropical beat. Meanwhile his manager Myles Shear prowls the side stage like an NFL coach barking orders into an olive green headset he somehow obtained. Confetti I want confetti on the drop he yells. The stage crew complies as a shimmering yellow sea subsumes the sky.
7 15 p.m. Clad in eye popping neon outfits the NERVO girls climb into the Main Stage booth and begin cheerfully parodying Myles who s still pacing about madly coordinating the stage production. Streamers I said streamers Miriam growls into an imaginary headset. As fireworks signal his set s finale Kygo shares a glass of champagne with his father who flew in from Norway to see his son s first main stage turn. My face hurts from smiling so hard he says.
8 49 p.m. Is there anyone here from Brazil Nicky Romero asks his fervent Main Stage audience. Belgium Come on this is TomorrowWorld show me your flags I see flags from everywhere tonight. Germany America Denmark As the Dutch star continues naming countries different pockets of the crowd erupt in cheers.
9 12 p.m. The world can hear you right now crows Holland s WildStylez before pummeling the Q Dance Stage s modest yet manic crowd with his genre s signature throbbing kick drum. A wild eyed girl wearing a Hardstyle changed my life T shirt flails about in one of the stage s surrounding water pools. It s slightly strange yet comforting to see the niche genre s rise represented at a U.S. festival in a manner unthinkable only a few years prior.
9 29 p.m. English veteran Jody Wisternoff takes the audience at his intimate Anjunadeep stage on an entrancing journey through progressive house s deep end. Upbeat percussion melds seamlessly with rumbling analog bass hits and trippy synth chords. Showing an ear for the present he draws cheers as he layers the chorus of Zhu s Faded over throwback progressive fare. Attendees down vodka shots and lift an enormous green squid flag overhead.
11 24 p.m. Zedd is in the zone. The German artist enthralls the Main Stage with a dynamic assortment of custom mash ups wildly jumping up and down while songs like Clarity Spectrum and his remix of Empire of the Sun s Alive similarly move the masses. He s active on the microphone happily engaging a crowd bristling with flags and carried decorations including a neon Chinese dragon head that bobs in the background.
11 29 p.m. Ti sto appears backstage in red pants and a steel shouldered jacket. As fireworks boom above he feigns being caught in an air raid by ducking and pointing to the laughter of all in attendance. As Zedd exits the booth Ti sto asks how his set went. It s fucking perfect the German artist replies. Yeah playing whatever you want man it s the best Ti sto says with a broad grin.
11 35 p.m. I like this Zedd exclaims pointing to the German flags adorning my jacket. After exchanging pleasantries in his native tongue the conversation turns to his second album. While the LP is close to completion it s clear that the same passion and perfectionism that made his debut so memorable can also create pressure. I think I set a bar for myself with Clarity he explains. I don t want to ever release anything that I m not just as happy with.
11 50 p.m. Green lasers dissect the sky while Zedd tells me about his New Years resolution. He s no longer responding to haters who pepper his social media feeds with indiscriminate vitriol and he s noticed a marked drop off in the negative comments. Unfortunately people treat music like clothing he says. You re wearing a shirt and it s cool but if everyone s wearing that shirt then you don t want it anymore.
12 00 p.m. Ti sto transitions into Red Lights and cuts the sound during the chorus. A packed Main Stage crowd is all too happy to fill in the gaps brandishing neon blue wands and dancing wildly upon the track s melodic drop.
12 55 p.m. Bassnectar closes out the Mythical Frames Stage with heavily layered melodies over booming broken beats. Thank you all so much he declares as he departs. I hope you make a lot of friends and have an amazing weekend.
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